Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 93: Surrender (Vote for Monthly Tickets!) (2/2)

There was no other way, so he decided to wait a little while.

Byrne was very aware that his status didn’t amount to much within the Lion clan, thus he sat patiently in the lounge waiting.

Suddenly a female servant in a tailcoat caught his eye, she was a young woman with flames flickering at the edges of her hair, her eyes sharp and bright, exuding a graceful temperament.

Flame descendant, like the silver descendant, was one of the four main sub-human groups.

The flame descendant maid said politely, “Mr. Byrne, please follow me, Viscount Bast wishes to meet with you first.”

“Alright, I understand!” Byrne stood up immediately.

All eyes turned towards Byrne, speculating whether he was actually the offspring of some high-ranking figure, otherwise why would the viscount choose to meet with him first?

Following the female flame descendant servant, Byrne could also feel the heat emanating from her.

This was his first time encountering a flame descendant in the East Coast Province, where the silver descendants and stone descendants were the majority, and seeing those of the Flame Tribe, naturally capable of producing flames, was rare.

Byrne walked through the mansion for quite some time, almost having the illusion that he was in some provincial palace.

He felt if someone hadn’t been leading him, he might have gotten lost during his first time inside the mansion.

Along the way, he saw many servants, each one showing subservience, wearing smiles, and being very polite.

Then, he didn’t see even one of the family’s guards, and he quickly realized that anyone daring to attack the manor wouldn’t be stopped by ordinary guards.

Therefore, the Bast family’s guards were probably not ordinary people. The few Extraordinary Exponents acting as guards were likely living in rooms he couldn’t see.

Finally, the maid stopped and said with a smile, “Lord Byrne, Lord Viscount is in this drawing room, please come in.”

So Herbstblatt Manor had more than one drawing room. Byrne silently took note of all the information about Herbstblatt Manor, and then met Viscount Bast, who was quietly drinking tea in the drawing room.

Viscount Bast was obviously a man who valued his appearance greatly at home.

He had several young and handsome male and female servants around him, some responsible for brewing tea, some for holding clothes, and others for offering pastries.

Each servant in the Leone family was responsible for one task only.

In a noble family with deep roots, servants followed the principle of “one person, one duty.”

“You’ve finally arrived, Byrne, I was wondering just which day you would come,” he said.

“Sit, have some tea.”

Viscount Bast sat calmly on the sofa, sipping fragrant black tea.

Byrne knew that it was quite normal for the other party to have guessed that he would come.

After all, the Fischer family’s foundation in East Coast Province was not solid, and it was only a matter of time before they had to seek a reliable patron, with Viscount Bast being the most familiar and manageable option.

Byrne tried not to let himself get nervous and sat calmly opposite Viscount Bast.

They drank tea.

For a long while, neither of them said anything, they just drank their tea. The few servants standing by were immobile, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Suddenly, Viscount Bast asked, “What do you think about the tea you just had?”

That was the right question indeed. Byrne instantly recalled all the knowledge he had seen in the carriage and smiled as he replied:

“The quality is very good. The books I’ve read mentioned tea leaves and only very good leaves can produce such aroma. The taste is rich and mellow, with a certain bitterness and sweetness.”

Viscount Bast nodded with a smile and said:

“Hmm, you’re a person who likes reading, I can see that.”

He suddenly sighed and said, “Alright, let’s get down to business.”

The servants swiftly and skillfully cleared away the tea, the whole process fluid like water, and Viscount Bast leaned on the sofa, gazing at Byrne calmly.

Byrne nodded, then took a contract out from his bosom and handed it over.

Viscount Bast took the contract, glanced at it calmly—it was a declaration of the transfer of a significant share of two factories. After looking at it, he didn’t speak and casually placed the contract to one side.

Byrne took a deep breath and inquired, “Lord Viscount, I wish to have your protection. Is there anything else you require me to do?”

He had long been psychologically prepared, knowing that he would likely have to proactively divulge his vulnerabilities or do certain things as a “Proof of Loyalty” to demonstrate his allegiance to Viscount Bast.

He just didn’t know what exactly were the inner demands of Viscount Bast.

However, Viscount Bast shook his head, his voice low as if he were recalling something.

“I don’t need you to do anything more to show your loyalty because, as I said, I can see a person’s character from birth, and you are the kind that values relationships and righteousness,” he said.

“Byrne, I know you will never betray me.”

He slowly stood up, turned towards the window, and watched as the red leaves continuously fell outside.

Winter was coming.

“You’ve come at just the right time, I wasn’t wrong after all, otherwise, it couldn’t have been such a coincidence.”

With his back to Byrne, Viscount Bast continued, “Come with me to a place, Byrne, you will be exposed to another entirely different world.”